Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is scheduled to receive 17,000 doses of swine flu vaccine Tuesday, a state Health Department spokesman said.

Spokesman Ed Barham also reported two more deaths of Arkansans from the H1N1 flu virus, bringing the total to seven since early August. The deaths were confirmed last week, Barham said. He would not release the names or ages of the victims or say where the deaths occurred.

The first shipment of the swine flu vaccine will be smaller than state health officials had expected.

“We had earlier been told we would be able to order 27,000, but the way supplies have worked out and distribution’s worked out, it only amounted to 17,000 for tomorrow,” Barham said today. “But we’re not concerned about a shortage in the least.”

Health officials expect to continue receiving additional shipments of the vaccine each week until the state has enough to provide a vaccination to everyone in the state who wants one, Barham said.

Barham also said today that two more Arkansans have died from swine flu, raising the state’s death toll since early August to seven.

The first shipment of the vaccine to arrive in Arkansas will be in nasal mist form. Injections are expected to be available later in the month.

Barham said the Health Department will distribute the vaccine first to schools for use in vaccination clinics that were already scheduled to start Oct. 15. Schoolchildren should be able to receive vaccinations for both swine flu and seasonal flu at those clinics, he said.

After the schools have their supplies, high-risk groups such as health care workers and emergency responders will receive vaccinations, Barham said.

Vaccination clinics for all ages are scheduled around the state for Oct. 29-31.

Meanwhile, the Arkansas Educational Television Network announced today it will broadcast a panel discussion on swine flu and seasonal flu at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Viewers will be invited to call in with questions.

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